Automatic bump gate and latch



NOV. 2, 1954 LEAKE AUTOMATIC BUMP GATE AND LATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 14, 1949 R m m ARTHUR 3. LEAKE Nov. 2, 1954 A. G. LEAKE 2,693,043

AUTOMATIC BUMP GATE AND LATCH Filed Jan. 14, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III,WW

v INVENTOR.

ARTHUR G. LEAKE Nov. 2, 1954 A. e. LEAKE 2,693,043

AUTQMATIC BUMP GATE AND LATCH Filed Jan. 14, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet sINVENTOR. ARTHUR G. LEAKE HIS ATTORN 2,693,043 Fatented Nov. 2, 1954AUTOMATKC BUMP GATE AND LATCH Arthur G. Leake, Middletown, Va.; TheFirst National Bank of Strashurg, Virginia, administrator of said ArthurG. Leake, deceased, assignor to Marion B. Leake, Warren County, Va.

Application January 14, 1949, Serial No. 70,831

25 Claims. (Cl. 39-31) This invention relates to improvements inautomatic gates, and has to do, more particularly, with a swinging gatewhich is adapted to be opened automatically by the impact of a motorvehicle and then automatically closed after the vehicle has passedthrough the gate opening.

One object of the invention is to provide a swinging gate, sunple inconstruction but efiicient in operation, which will be unlatched andswung open automatically by horizontal pressure applied thereto, as by aslowly moving motor vehicle, without the necessity of the driver leavingthe vehicle to unlatch the gate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swinging gate which willautomatically return to latched position after the vehicle has passedthrough the gate opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic gate of suchnature that pressure, applied thereto to open it, will lift both thehinged end and the free end of the gate.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction andeconomies of operation, will definitely appear from the detaileddescription to follow. My invention is clearly defined and pointed outin the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodimentof my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of the specification, in which:

Fig. l is an elevation view of the gate and gate posts, showing thegeneral arrangement of parts.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1,showing, in full lines, the gate in closed position, and, in phantomlines, parts of the gate in open position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showingalso, in phantom lines, several positions the gate may occupy when swungfrom latched position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on the line 4--4 of Pi 3.

l ig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the latch pin secured to theframework of the gate.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the latch unit securedto the gate post, the position of the latch pin, as the gate is beingclosed, being shown in phantom.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the latch unit, showingthe position of the latch pin as the gate approaches latched position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the latch unit, showingthe latch pin in one position it occupies as the gate is being opened byhorizontal pressure.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the latch unit showingthe latch pin in another position it occupies when the gate has swungopen far enough for the pin to pass the pivot point and to start itsdescent on the opposite end of the keeper.

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevatlon of the latch unit with the latch pinin latching position and the keepers locked against movement, and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the arrow at the end of the section line.

In general, the automatic gate of my invention comprises a pair of gateposts spaced to provide an opening between them, a gate adapted to closethat opening, means for mounting the gate on one of the two posts sothat it may swing aoout a vertical axis and move vertically with respectto that post, means on the said post and the gate which cooperate tolift the gate as it swings from closed position, and latching means thatare mounted on the other post and the gate and cooperate to latch thegate in closed position, and which are effective, when horizontalpressure is applied to the gate to open it, to lift the gate as itswings from latched to unlatched position. The latching means mayinclude a latch pin fixed on the free end of the gate and a latch unitmounted on the adjacent post, and this latch unit may comprise a platehaving a horizontal ledge, on which the latch pin rests when the gate isclosed, and a keeper pivotally mounted on the plate with the inner endthereof normally engaging the ledge at one side of the latch pin.Preferably, the keeper is pivoted to one side of its center of mass, sothat gravity tends to hold the inner end thereof in engagement with theledge, and the upper face of this keeper is inclined upwardly andoutwardly so that it forms a ramp, up which the latch pin rides as thegate is forced to unlatched position. In order that the latch unit maybe effective to permit automatic opening of the gate, by pressureapplied to it in either direction, the latch unit preferably includes apair of keepers pivoted on spaced horizontal axes with their inner endsnormally engaging the ledge, one on either side of the latch pin, whenthe gate is closed. The upper faces of these keepers are inclinedupwardly and outwardly, forming oppositely inclined ramps, and, whenpressure is applied to the gate to open it, the latch pin rides up andover one of these ramps, lifting the gate at the same time, the rampwhich is effective being determined, of course, by the direction inwhich the pressure is applied to-move the gate. The outer ends of thekeepers are normally spaced from the ledge so that, as the gate swingsto the latched position, the latch pin may move on the ledge beneath oneof the keepers, lifting it until latched position is reached, at whichtime the keeper drops down behind the pin. Stops on the latch plate arepreferably provided to limit movement of the inner ends of the keepersaway from the ledge, so that they will not be thrown into inoperativeposition by the pressure of the latch pin as the gate is opened. Ipropose to provide a removable locking insert that may be positionedbetween the stops and the inner ends of the keepers, so as to block thepin against movement over either of these ramps to unlatched position.

The means, at the hinged end of the gate, for lifting it as it swingsopen, may include an arcuate cam track fixed to the adjacent gate postand a roller fixed to the gate and rolling on said track. The cam trackis provided with a low point, which is in line with the two gate posts,and the roller engages this low spot when the gate is closed, but, asthe gate is swung in either direction from closed position, the actionof the roller on the inclined track raises the gate. This roller maytake the form of a ball slidably mounted on a horizontal rod fixed tothe gate, and the arcuate track may be so formed that it approaches theaxis about which the gate is hinged, as one proceeds from the low spottoward either of the high spots, with the result that the ball mustslide on the rod to follow the trackway as the gate is opened. Thisprovides friction which is effective to retard the opening of the gate,and also gives a slight delay before the gate begins to swing shut underthe force of gravity.

A pair of gate posts 10 and 11 (Fig. 1) are spaced apart to provide anopening of desired width, to be closed by a swinging gate 12. One end ofthe gate is hinged to post 10 by an upper hinge bracket 13 and a lowerhinge bracket 14, both of which are secured to the post 10 by suitablefastening means, such as screws 15. The opposite or free end of the gateis provided with the hereinafter described latch unit, which is mountedon post 11. Gate 12 may be of any construction, but is advantageously ofthe so-called non-sagging type, having a framework comprising an upperU-shaped frame 16 and a horizontal lower rail 17, joined at their endsby brackets 18 and 18a. Any number of upright bars 19 may be verticallydisposed at intervals longitudinally between the frame members 16 and17, with their ends secured to the frames by brackets 21. One leg offrame member 16 is journaled in hinge brackets 13 and 14 to hinge thegate. Wire fencing 22 is stretched taut and fastened to the framework bymeans of hanger wire 23. A pair of heavy strips or boards 24 of anysuitable material, preferably relatively thick wood planking, aresecured near the bottom of the gate, one strip on one side and the otheron the other side of the gate, at the height of the bumper on a motorvehicle. These strips are of substantial length, and attached to theframework by any suitable fastening means, such as bolts 25, which clampthem securely to the gate frame.

The lower hinge bracket 14 has an extension 31 integral therewith andsecured thereby to post 10. The extension, however, might be separatelyformed and secured to the post. The extension has an arcuate inclinedtrack 33, which extends from a high point 34 on one side of the post toa similar high point 35 on the opposite side of the post, the tracksloping from these two high points to a medial low point 36 on the linebetween the two posts.

The track will be long enough to permit the gate to be swung in eitherdirection, far enough for a motor vehicle to clear it in the brief spaceof time necessary to pass through the-gate opening. Ordinarily, thetrack will c'omprise about three-fifths or more of a complete circle toallow the gate to swing through an arc of about 210.

The bracket 18 comprises two half sections 40 and 41, held together bybolts 42, and has a pair of spaced extensions 43 for mounting a rod 45on which a roller ball 46 is rotatably positioned. The roller ball runsin a groove 47 on the track member 33, and the groove is of aconformation to retain the roller in it and guide the same along thetrackway. The roller is loosely mounted on the rod 45, and axiallymovable thereon between the extensions, so as to align itself with thetrack and follow the groove when the gate is opened or closed. The

,iportion of the track adjacent the low point 36 is substantiallyconcentric with the vertical axis about which the gate swings, but asone approaches the high point of the track, in either direction, thetrack gradually approaches said vertical axis. Consequently, as the gateswings open, ball 46 in following the track must slide on red 45, andthe same action occurs when the gate closes. Recesses or sockets 37, ofslight depth, are provided at the high ends of the track, which receiveball 46 to retain the gate in wide open position. As the gate is swungopen, the roller rides on the'track 33 from the low point 36 to eitherof the high points 34 or 35,, depending in which direction the gate isopened. As the roller moves from the low point to 'one of the higherpoints on the track, the gate will be lifted and frame member 16 willslide vertically in the hinge brackets 13 and 14. After being opened thedesired distance, the inclined track will automatically cause the gatetoswing shut by gravity. The latch, hereinafter described, on theopposite post is of a construction to lift initially the free end of thegate and release 'it from latched position when the gate starts to open,and to automatically latch the gate when it swings shut.

A latch unit, generally designated by numeral 48, is

mounted on the post 11 by screws 49, projecting through slots 50,so thatthe latch unit'may be adjusted in proper position for cooperation withthe latch pin on the free end of the gate. The latch unit comprises aplate 51 having a vertical wall, in which the slots 50 are formed,

and a horizontal ledge 53 extending laterally therefrom, the ends of"the ledge being curved downwardly, at 61 and 62. A pair of keepers, 54and 55, are pivotally mounted on pins'56, threaded into the bosses 57formed on the plate 51. The two keepers are disposed parallel to theplate 51 with their adjacent ends spaced apart. A projecting latch pin52 fixed on the free end'of the gate is lodged in the space between thekeepers, when the gate is latched, and said keepers provide ramps forlifting the gate when it is to be opened. Each keeper is pivoted to oneside of its center of mass, so that their adjacent inclined ends drop bygravity into contact 'with ledge 53. Stops "58 and 590m the verticalwall of the "plate 51 limit the pivotal movement of the keepers 54 ofthe gate, and for supporting the adjacent ends of the keepers, which arenormally in contact therewith. The

projecting latch pin 52 between the keepers.

keepers 54 and 55 are disposed with their ends 64 and 65 adjacent, andtheir opposite ends 67 and 68 normally lifted above the ledge. The latchpin 52 is lodged on ledge 53 between adjacent ends, 64 and 65, of thekeepers, when the gate is latched in closed position. The inclined topsurface of each of the keepers provides a ramp for the projectinglatchpin 52 on the free end of the gate.- When horizontal pressure is appliedto open the gate, said latch pin moves up the ramp formedby one of thekeepers, 'until it passes beyond the pivot point thereof and is easedoif the opposite end. Thus, the gate is lifted as it is unlatched. Whenthe gate swings shut, the latch pin 52 moves onto the ledge '53 andbeneath the corresponding keeper lifting the inner end thereof until thepin engages the inner end of the other keeper, when the first-mentionedkeeper falls .into place behind the pin, as shown in Fig. 10.

A locking insert may be provided to prevent the gate from being openeduntil after the insert has been removed. The insert, preferablysecured-to the post l'i by chain 69, has-atop neck portion 70 adapted-to fit between the two stops, 58 and 59, on the plate 51 of the latchunit .and a bottom portion 71 conforming generally to the contour of theends ofthe adjacent keepers, 54 and '55, except for a recess 72 providedtherein to receive the latch pin 52 on the gate. Shoulders 73, adjacentthe neck portion 70, abut the bottoms of the two stops, and the bottomportion 71 of the locking insert seats upon the adjacent ends of thekeepers and over Ilthe T us, horizontal pressure will be ineifective tocause 'pin 52 to .ride upeither of the keepers.

From the foregoing description, the operation of'the automatic gate toopen .or closed position is obvious. As the bumper of a moving vehiclecomes into contact with one of the bumper boards '24 on the gate withslight impact, the latch pin 52 on the free end of the gate is forced upthe inclined top surface of one of the keepers, this being illustratedin the drawings as keeper 54 (Fig. 8), and past the pivot point thereof,to then ride down and off the opposite end 67 of said keeper. The gateis lifted and the weight of the gate on the 'keeperend 67 causes keeper54 to pivoton .pin 56 until the upper surface of the opposite endcontacts stop 58 '(Fig. '9'). The keeper will remain in that positionuntil the latch pin rides oif end 67. As thelatch pin leaves the keeper,the gate drops until ball 46 at the hinged end engages track 47, but theelevation of the free end of the gate in being unlatched relieves thefriction at the hinged end of the gate, so that it starts to swing openmore easily. As the gate 12 swings further, after being since the ball,as it follows the track, has to slide on the supporting rod. 'By thetime the ball has reached one of the high points of -the track, inopening, the vehicle has had time to pass completely through between theposts '10 and 11 and clear the gate. The gate, then, will swing closed'by gravity, the ball 46 rolling down the inclined trackway toward thelow point. As the gate nears closed position, the latch pin '52 on thefree end of the gate rides on the ledge 53 of the plate SL-beneaththekeeper-54 (Fig. 6), passes between the ledge and pivot 56, lifts theinner-end of the keeper rocking it clockwise on its pivot and continuesalong the -ledge until it engages the inner end of keeper '55 (Fig. 10),when the lifted keeper 54 will drop behind the latch'pin to retain thegate in latched position. The inclination of the sloping track 33 issuch that it 'allows the gate to drop, as it swings to closed position,sufliciently so that the latch pin 52 is presented approximately in linewith l'edge'53, so that it may move thereon in the final stage of theclosing movement.

The gate may be opened in the opposite direction by pressure applied bya vehicle moving against 'the'bumper plank 24, on the other side of thegate, causing the latch ,pin 5210 ride up over keeper '55 and return tolatched position beneath the same when the gate is closed. A latchconstruction has been shown with two keepers, so that the gate may beswung open from either of two directions, but it will be understoodtnata latch with only one keeper could be employed, if it were desired tohave the gate open in but one direction. Any stop means could be used inlieu of one of the keepers as a stop for the latch pin 52.

I am aware that the apparatus shown and described herein is susceptibleof considerable variation, without departing from the spirit of myinvention, and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly as indicated bythe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An automatic gate comprising the combination of a pair of gate postsspaced to provide an opening therebetween, a gate adapted to close saidopening, means for mounting said gate on one of said posts so that itmay swing about a vertical axis and move vertically with respect to saidpost, cooperating means on said post and said gate for lifting said gatevertically as it swings from closed position, and latching means on theother post and said gate, including a latch pin and a keeper providing aramp for said latch pin, cooperating to latch the gate and effective,under horizontal pressure applied to the gate, to lift it as it swingsto unlatched position.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the latch pin is mounted on thegate and the keeper is mounted on the adjacent post.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which the latch unit comprises a platesecured to the post and having a horizontal ledge on which the latch pinrests when the gate is closed, and a keeper pivotally mounted on theplate with one end thereof normally engaging the ledge, the upper faceof said keeper forming a ramp up which the latch pin rides as the gateis forced to unlatched position.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the keeper is pivoted to one sideof its center of mass, so that the force of gravity normally holds itsinner end against said ledge.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which the latch unit includes a stopfor limiting movement of the inner end of the keeper away from theledge.

6. The combination of claim 1 in which the latching means include alatch pin fixed to the gate and a latch unit fixed to the adjacent postand comprising a horizontal ledge on which the latch pin rests when thegate is closed, and a pair of keepers pivotally mounted on horizontalaxes and normally engaging the ledge, one on either side of the latchpin when the gate is closed.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which the upper faces of said keepersare oppositely inclined upwardly and outwardly, forming ramps over oneof which the latch pin rides lifting the gate, as the latter is forcedto unlatched position.

8. The combination of claim 7 in which the outer ends of the keepers arenormally spaced from the ledge to permit the latch pin to pass under andlift a keeper as the gate swings to latched position.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which the latch unlt includes a pair ofstops limiting movement of the 1nner ends of the keepers away from theledge.

10. The combination of claim 9 in wh1ch the llftmg means on the hingepost comprises an arcuate cam track on the post and a roller carried bythe gate and rolling on said track as the gate is swung open.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which the roller is slidably androtatably mounted on a horizontal rod fixed to the gate and the camtrack approaches the axis on which the gate is hinged as it leaves al1ne between the gate posts, whereby the roller is forced to slide onthe rod as the gate swings from closed to open, or from open to closed,position.

12. A latch unit for a swinging gate, and adapted to cooperate with alatch pin fixed to sa1d gate, comprising the combination of a plateadapted to be secured to a gate post and having a horizontal ledge proecting therefrom, on which the latch pin is adapted to rest, and akeeper pivoted to said plate on a horizontal axis w th its inner endnormally engaging sa1d ledge at one s1de of the latch pin and having anintermediate top surface between said inner end and the pivot providmgan unobstructed path for the latch pin in ruling over sa1d surface.

13. The combination of claim 12 in WhlCh the keeper is pivoted to oneside of its center of mass so that grav ty tends to hold the inner endof the keeper m contact w1th the ledge.

14. The combination of claim 13 in which the inner end of the keeper hasan upper face inclined upwardly and outwardly forming a ramp up whichthe latch pin is adapted to ride as the gate is forced from latchedpos1t1on.

15. A latch unit for a swinging gate, and adapted to cooperate with alatch pin fixed to said gate, comprising the combination of a plateadapted to be secured to a gate post and having a horizontal ledgeprojecting therefrom, on which the latch pin is adapted to rest, and apair of keepers pivoted to said plate on laterally spaced horizontalaxes with their inner ends normally engaging the ledge, one on eitherside of the latch pin, and each having an intermediate top surfacebetween its inner end and pivot providing an unobstructed path for thelatch pin in riding over either top surface.

16. The combination of claim 15 in which the centers of mass of thekeepers are so located with respect to their pivots that gravity tendsto hold the inner ends of the keepers in contact with the ledge.

17. The combination of claim 16 in which. the top surfaces of thekeepers are upwardly and outwardly inclined, forming oppositely slopingramps up one of which the latch pin rides as the gate is forced tounlatched pos1t1on.

18. The combination of claim 17 in which the outer ends of the keepersare normally spaced from the ledge to permit the latch pin to passbeneath and lift the inner end of one of the said keepers as the gateswings to latched position.

19. The combination of claim 18 in which stops are located on the platein position to limit movement of the inner ends of the keepers away fromthe ledge.

20. The combination of claim 19 in which the latch unit includes aremovable locking insert fitting between the stops and the inner ends ofthe keepers and blocking movement of the latch pin over either ramp.

21. A latch unit for a swinging gate, and adapted to cooperate with alatch pin fixed to said gate, and comprising the combination of a plateadapted to be secured to a gate post and having a horizontal ledgeprojecting therefrom, on which the latch pin is adapted to rest, anelongated keeper pivoted to said plate at a suflicient distance abovethe ledge for the latch pin to have clearance in tracking along saidledge beneath the keeper to latched position, said keeper having aninner end normally resting on the ledge and an upper surface providing aramp for tracking the latch pin to unlatched position, and said platebeing free of any obstruction in the path of the latch pin in itstrackage along the ledge and over the ramp, and means adjacent the innerend of the keeper and the top of the ledge for latching the latch pinbetween it and the keeper.

22. A latch unit for a swinging gate as set forth in claim 21, in whichthe means adjacent the end of the keeper for latching the latch pin isanother pivoted keeper on the plate.

23. A latch unit for a swinging gate as set forth in claim 22 includingmeans for latching the latch pin between the inner ends of the twokeepers.

24. A latch unit for a swinging gate adapted to cooperate with a latchpin fixed to said gate comprising the combination of a plate adapted tobe secured to a gate post and having a ledge projecting therefromforming a trackway on which said latch pin may rest, a pair of leverspivoted to said plate on spaced axes at a suflicient distance from theledge for said latch pin to have clearance between the ledge and leversin tracking along the ledge, each lever being pivoted to one side of itscenter of mass so that gravity normally urges the inner end thereof incontact with said ledge, the inner ends of said levers being spacedapart to accommodate said latch pin therebetween when in latchingposition, each lever having a surface between its inner end and axisover one or the other of which the latch pin may ride when moved fromlatching to unlatching position, and stop means located on said plate tolimit movement of the inner ends of said levers away from said ledge.

25. A keeper for a horizontal rigid latch of a gate having a limitedvertical movement under opening movement of the gate, comprising a bodymember mounted upon a post defining one side of an opening in a fence,said body having a laterally disposed wing at each side thereof, ahorizontally disposed trackway at the base of said body member :andintegral therewith, the ends of the trackway being downwardlycurvedanelongated trigger pivotally mountedmpon each of said wings, thepivot of said triggers :beingat points outwardly from the vertical axisof the post and adjacent the upperedges of athe wings, 'said triggersthereby having a downwardly inclined relation, presenting the inner ends'of the triggers :in contacting engagement with said trackway, saidinner ends being of :a reduced thickness and in spaced apart relation toaccommodate the latch :therebetween, the uppermost ends of the triggersprojecting beyondsaid laterally disposed wings, said latchtraversing'ithe upper edges of said triggers upon opening movements ofsaid gate and to be released upon downward movement of the mppermostends-of the'triggers, and said latch traversing said trackway uponreturn movement of the gate to occupy a position between the lowermost"ends of said trigger.

References Cited in the'file of this. patent Number 5 217 ,260 616,054714,954 1,183,575 1,648,691 '2,062,'7 38 2,118,722

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Brady July 8, 1879 Cross Dec. 13,1898 Setbacken Dec. 2, 1902 Longenecker May 16, 1916 Matthews Nov. 8,1927 Bigler Dec. 1, 1936 Book 'May 24, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateGreat Britain. Mar. .1, 19.35

